Writing adding machine



'Muay 19. 1925. 1,538,392

- 1 H. A.4 FOOTHQRAP v WRITING ADDNG MAGHNE Filed July 19. -1921 frshemsht 1 May 19,1925 n 1,538,392

H. A. FooTHoRAP WRITING ADDING MACHINE v Filed July 19, 1921 7sheet-sheer 2 gyn/wanton) faam/@a May 19, 1925. v'1,538,359.91

H. A. FOTHORAP WRITING ADDING MACHINE.

Filed July 19, 1921 7 Sheetslsheet 5 May 19, 1925.

H. A. FooTHoRAP WRITING ADDING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 vFiled July` 19.1921 H. A. FOOTHORAP WRITING ADDING MACHINE May 19, 1925.

' v sheds-sheet s Filed July 19, 1921 May 19, 1925.

H. "A. FOOTHORAF WRITING ADQING MACHINE Filed July 19, fr Sheetssheet eMay 19, 1925.

H. A. FOOTHORAP WRITING ADDING MACHINE Filed July 19, 1921 '7SheetS-Shet 7 gru/ventola] n ttm-we 14 Harrisburg,

inl

Patented May 19,/1925.

ydmanr ARTHUnroo'rHonAr, or H-Anmsisune,

rnNNsYLvAmA, AssIGNon To ELLIOTT-FISHER COMPANY, A QORPORATION 0FDELAWARE.'

, y WRITING ADDING MACHINE Application filed July 19, 1921. Serial No.485,804.

To aU whom t may concern.'

B e it'known that HARRY A. FooTHoRAr, a citizen ot the United States,residing at State of Pennsylvania, has invented certain `new and usefulImprovements in lVriting Adding Machines, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to writing. adding machines, and moreparticularly that type which includes in its organization a relativelymovable frame and carriage, and both printing and adding mechanism whichare simultaneously operated upon the depression of keys to record andregister values.

The object of the invention is to combine.

with one or more column registers a plun rality of Vregisters of thetype known as crossfooters, arranged to be operated either one at a timeor simultaneously in correspondence with the operation of the columnregister or column registers.

Another object of the invention is to provide a plurality ofautomaticallycontrolled registers capable of addition or subtraction andoperated by common operating means,

.as for instance, keys so that said registers may be operated invarious'operative combinations, either one at a time for addition orsubtraction, simultaneously for addition or subtraction, or eithersingly or simultaneously one for addition and the other for subtraction.

` `Another object of the invention is to com- I bine with a series ofcolumn registers, a

plurality of additional registers or cross- .footers operatedsimultaneously with the column registers, or certain ot' them7 andautomatically controlled individually for addition or subtraction. y

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a. machine of thischaracter, a com@ mon restoring mechanism for a plurality of registersand automatic mechanism for locks -ing the. keys after each operation ofeither register and for retaining the keys in locked 'condition as longas there is any possibility of misoperating a register through thedepression o't. a key.

To the accomplishment of these objects and others subordinate thereto,one embodiment oi the invention resides in the construction andarrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated inthe in the county of Dauphin and A accompanying drawings and defined inthe appended claims.

ln said drawings 1 vFigure l isa plan view of aport-ion of anElliott-Fisher bookkeeping machine equipped in accordance with myinvention'. I 'Figure 2 is a front elevationof the frame with theearriageremoved. i

Figure 3 is a side elevation-ofthe cross footer casing. 'i

of the crossfooter easing.

Figures 5 and 6 are detailedviews of the two master wheel locks' andrelease keys.

Figure 7 is a more or less diagrammatic front elevation on a somewhatenlarged scale. l

Figures 8 to 11 inclusive7 are a series of front elevations showing, inprogressive positions, certa-in elements of the master Wheel and keylocking mechanism.

Figures 12 and 13 are detailed sectional views on the lines l2-l2 an-d13-13 respectively, of Figure 7. l

Figure'lt is a detailed view of certain elements of themaster wheel andkeylock- Amg mechanism. Y i i Figure '15 is a detailed perspective Viewof the key locking mechanism with the arts Ain the positions they assumeto lock the eys.

Figure 16 is a rear eievation showing the machine equipped with aplurality of colH umn registers, a plurality of crossfooters and'separate and distinct mechanism controlling the koperation of .therespectivev crossfooters.

Figure 17 isa bottom plan viewv of two 65 Figure 4 is an elevation of'thevother side enV crossfooters, or the' twin crossfooter, show-y ingthe independent controlling. devices therefor and a restoring mechanismoominon to both cross'footers or crossfooter seo-U tions; and

Figure i8 is a section showing more par-` ticularly the common restoringmechanism for the crossfooter sections.

The illustrated form of the invention has been designed with specialreference to the equipment ot the Elliott-Fisherbookkeeping machine` ofcommerce. A disclosure of lil() the entire machine is unnecessary, but.it l may bestated that this type of machine in* l,

cludes a. iiat platen ,which supports the work sheet and a printingmechanism Which.

moves longitudinally of the platen for line,l f

spacing and transversely of the piaten for -by the movement. of t-hecarriage as the lat# ter advances to successive denominational positionsand the operative or actuating movement of the master wheel or master`wheels is effected as number keys are oli-:f`

erated to cause the printing of a number un the work sheet. Thus, when amimberl is'.

printed on the work sheet in a given colunm position, a given registerwill be operated in' those denominational positions which correspondwith the denominational positions ot the printed digits included in thenumber.

It is also usual in these machines to mount at one end of the carriagean additional c omputing device known as a crossfooter, automaticallycontrolled for addition or subtraction and operated by its own masterwheel in synchronismV with one or more of whatvare' known as columnregisters. j j

It is thought that this general description will suilice for the presentpurpose.

The carriage of the machine is indicated by 1, the adding keys 2 vandthe key levers 3. The levers 3, when swung down by the operation of thekeys, eli'ect the rotation of the primary master wheel 4 through themedium of operating connections known as differential mechanism, thespecific character of which is not material. It is suflicient to saythat this differential mechanism usually includes actuator levers 5,upon which are or may be mounted non-print keys 6, by means of which theadding mechanism may be operated independently of the writing mechanism.Associated with the levers 5 are a series oi' kev locking members 7which alternate with the levers 5 and are swung from their upper ends.The locking members 7, unless free to swing or spread from an operatedlever 5, obstruct all of said levers and lock the keys against ac.tuation. If, however, the members 7 are free to swing, they will permitthe depression ot-any lever, but will lock the remaining levers of theseries. This form of key locking mechanism is"well-known. Mounted on a.Yregister supportng bar 8 in rearof the eiage. 1 are column registersS), any numher' ot which may be employed within the rap city of the bar.The, column registers operated by the master wheel 4 which, "isheretofore stated, is advanced by the carriage to the successive numberwheels ot the registers, At one cnrl of the carriage 1 are mounted twoadditional registers 10 and 11, the master wheels 12 and 13 ot' whichAare movable longitudinally upon master; Wheel shafts 14: and 15 driven.from the primary master wheel shaft 16. The shaft 16 carrles theprimary master wheel 4 and is geared through two sets of variablegearing 17 and 18 to the two master wheel shafts 14 and 1T). Thevariable gearing 17 and 18 (more fully described in my copend ingapplication No. 469,530, filed May 14, 1921) is automatically controlledto' determine whether the registers 10 and 11 shall adder subtract, bycontrol levers 19 and 2() coacting with control devices 21 and 22carried byl control bars 23 and 24. It will -be noted that the controllevers 19 and 20 are. located'fin dili'erent vertical and horizontalplanes and coact with control devices whxchare also located in differentplanes to insure 'the independence of the vcontrol of thev tworregisters10 and 11. The master wheels 12 and 13 are movable with master wheelcarriages 25 and 2li slidable on a guide har 27 and operated by masterwheel advancing mechanisms oi' well-knownform (see my pendingapplication supra). As'

indicated in-Figurc 1, each of these mchanisms include a vertical shaft28,' l1aving an 'upper arm 29 engaging theA master wheel carriage and alower arm 30 engaging stops 31 on the respective control hars 23 and2&1. 1V hile these master wheel advancing devices arc'not new, thelocation of the arms 30 of the respective advancing mechanisms indifferent planes so that the control of the two registers 10 Iand 11 isentirely independent,

is a feature ofA this invention. It will now be seen that while thedirection of rotation of the shaft 16 and the primary master wheel 4 isconstant to operate any column register forladditiom the variablegearing sets 17 and 18 may be .operated to swcn're a very wide range ofoperativeY possibilit' hetwcen the column register `operated an the twoadditional register#l 'or crossfootcrs 10 and 11. For instance, when agiven column register is operated, neither of the registers 10 and 11will come into action unless by pre-arrangement ot` thecontrollingmechanism.y On the other hand, the controlling mechanism mayhave predetermined that the registers` 10 and 11 shall one or both addwhile the column register is adding, or that one or both shall subtractwhile the-column register is adding, or that one shall add and the othersubtract regardless of which register performs the operation. In othertive of whether or not the -column register isoperated simultaneouslywith any ot' tho specified permutations. 32 indicates the usualrestoring key or bar which, as is well understood, is depressed torestore the-carrying mechanism of the crossfooting register, This barand the associated mechanism is no different from that ordinarilyemployed, ex@ cept that thev 'parts both registers, register.

It has been pointed out that one of the objects of the invention is toprovide mechanism which will. automatically lock the 0perating keys wheneither of the registers 10 and.1l are not in condition for operation,rand I shall now. proceed to describe the mechanism whereby this end isattained. Associated with the master wheel carriages 25 and 26 arecarriage bars 33 and 34 mount'- ed to slide through suitable openings inthe walls of the crossfooter easing. vThese bars are semicircular incross section and each is. fixed' to one of the carriages to movetherewith. The rear ,barA 33 of the carriage 25 is provided adjacent tooneend withv a notch 35 adapted when the master-wheel 12 passes out ofengagement with Athe number wheel ofA lowest order to be engal ed by alocking plate 36 mounted on the oft-hand end of the crossfooter casingas shown yin when the master wheel 12 Figure 3. The lockingplate 36 isslotted at 37 and mounted on'guide screws 38, being constantly 'urged'toward its elevated of'the tooth 47 away position by a spring 39. Whentha-"thus permit the keys to be 'unlocked' at the locking mast-er wheelmoves out of the register the, locking plate 36,v by engaging the'noteh35 prevents the retraction of the master wheel l2 untilthe locking plate36 has. been drawn down. This releasing or unlocking vmovement of theslide is accomplished by the depression of the restoring member 32, oneof the side arms of which carries av in 40 which moves. within alongitudinal sot 4l Thus,

atlthe lower -end of the plate 36.

is moved out of register, it will be locked against retraction to 'itsnormal position by the plate 36 which' will not be withdrawn fromthecarriage bar 33 until the restoring mechanism of the register hasbeen opera-'ted to restore the carrying mechanism, at which time themaster wheel carriage will be unlocked and retracted ina manner wellunderstood in the art. It is desirable, however, that this retraction ofthe master wheel shall be prevented until the restorin mechanism, theprimary element of whic is the member 32, has returned to its normalposition, and

it is also desirable to provide for the automatic locking of the keyswhen the master 4wheel moves out of the register and for the retentionof the keys in suc-h locked con,- dition as long as any of the parts areout 95 ot' normal position. That is to say, it is are extended toembrace" or both sections of the twinA desirablepto keep the keysdockeduntil the master wheelv has been .fully retracted and the restoringmechanism fully returned to normal position. To accomplished theseresults, I mount at the righthand end of the series of loc-king members7 a key locking lever 42 fulcrumed at 43 and having its 'front end 44normally disposed in noninterferingrelation see adjacentend member 7.This end 44 of the lever, however, is movable into interfering relationwith the locking member 7 so that said memlber cannot vyield side-wiseand therefore blocks the whole system of locking members and preventsthe operation oli' any key (see Fig. 15), Thelever 42 is normallyretained in lits unlocked position 'by a spring 45, but is provided witha pendent cam tooth 46 which, when engaged by an oppositely Fig. 7) withthe disposed cam tooth 47 on the carriage barfSS the keys will remainlocked. Obviously,-

however, unless provision is made to the conn trary, the unlocking ofthe carriage bar and its consequent retraction up sion of the restoringde `ice 32 would move :horil the. tooth 46 and beginning of theretractile movement of the 'master wheel and before therestoring devicehad returned to normal position. I therefore provide the lever 42 with adown- E. turned 'end 48 engaged by the upper end 'of a full stroke lever49 fnlorumed at 50 and havinga cam'slot 51 `with which the pin 40engages. The forin of the slot 5l is Y.such that the initial downwardmovement Ao-f the restoring member 32 will cause-the' pin y40 to swingthe full stroke lever-"49 to la position in which its upper end willengage the end 48 ot the ke locking lever 42. As this occursbefore t erelease of the carriage bar 33, it will be-evident that the .Thismovement of the lkey n the depreslll) llS

"release and retraction of said bar which` l has accomplished thelocking lof the keys, will not effect the unlocking 'thereof because,when the tooth 47 moves ,out from yunder the tooth 46 the lever 42 willstill be held in locked position by the full stroke lever 49. 'After thefull stroke lever/'has' been moved by the initial downward move ment ofthe restoring member 32c`ontinued movement of said restoring member willnot affect the lever 49, but will finally accomplish the describedreleasepf the bary 33, the keys remaining locked 'for' the reasonstated, until upon the `final retractile motie mentof the restoringlever 32 th` full stroke lever 49 will be returned to normal position,thus permitting the key locking lever.

42 to unlock the keys. AIt is sometimes desirable to lock the registerl() out of action. This is accomplished by moving the master wheel 12 anadditional step beyond the numthe master wheel in this extreme position,the bar 33 is provided' with asecond notch 52 engaged by a pivotedmaster wheel lock 53 drawn in one direction by a spring 54 and movableout ot engagement with the notch by a crossfooter release key 55. At/

tention is directed to the fact that when the master wheel is moved tothis extreme r1ght- -hand position, the keys will be unlocked as thetooth 47 will move beyond the tooth 46 of the locking lever. Therefore,as long as the register remains out ofacti'on, the

- keys will be unlocked andv capable of independent use. As soon,however, as the release key 55 is operated, the master wheel willmerelyy retract one step as permitted by the notch 35, again bringingthe cam teeth 46 and 47 vinto coincidence to lock the keys, in whichcondition they must remain,

as We have seen, until all parts are in op.-

erative condition. All of` the various characteristics of the bar 33, asdescribed, are possessed by the bar 34 which moves with the master wheelcarriage 26 of theother register 13. This bar is likewise provided 'witha notch 35-1 corresponding with the notch 35 and similarly engaged by alocking plate 36 corresponding with the locking plate 36, but preferablylocated at the opposite side of the casing. Also, the bar 34 is providedwith the locking notch 52 corresponding with the notch 52, but insteadof being dircctlyengaged by extension of tne release key, this notch isengaged by a locking member 53 drawn toward its engaging position by aspring 54 and having a projection 54 engaged by a cam 54 onA thelever-of the release key 55, This slight variation of construction isnecessitated by the requinement for having similar mounting forztherelease keys 55 and 55 vnotwithstanding engagement with two op-4controllingmechanism and to the somewhat broader idea of key lockingmeans con- `trolled by lany oneof a plurality of computing devices.' V

`While I have illustrated in detail the restoring mechanism for the twincrossfooter, I have not deemed it necessary to describe this structureinthe same detail. This is for the reason that it is substantially likethe restoring mechanism, fully described and. claimed in my copendingapplication N o. 434,254, filed December 31, 1920, except that, asalready stated, the restoring mechanism herein illustrated is ofsufficient width to embrace both crossfooter registers, or sections ofthe twin crossfooter.

This variation is accomplished by mounting the various side members ofthe restoring mechanism at opposite sides of the twin crossfooter casingand by making the transverse members of the restoring mechanism ofsuiiicient length to serve the carrying devices of both crossfooters. l

It is thought that from the foregoing,

the arrangement and operation of the-illus' ,trated construction will beclearl understood, but I reserve the right to e ect such structuralmodifications and variations as may come fairly within the scope of theprotection prayed.

What I claim is':

l. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a frameand carriage, of a plurality of computing devices mounted onthe frame, aplurality of computing devices mounted on the carriage, and operatingmeans common to all the said computing devices and mounted on thecarriage.

2. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a frameand carriage, of a. plurality of computing devices mounted on the framea plurality ot computing devices mounte on the carriage, operatingmechanism mounted on the carriage and common to all the computingdevices and arranged to effect their simultaneous operation,. and meansfor determining whether certain of said computingdevices shall operatefor addition or subtraction.

3. In a machinef the character described, the combination .with a frameand carriage, of a computing device mounted on the frame, a plurality,of computing devices mounted on the carriage, operating mechanism alsomounted on the'carriage and com'- mon to all'the/said com futing devicesand. arranged to effect simu taneous operation l nism mounted'on thecarriage and commonl thereof, and automatic means for determiningWhether one, all or none of the computing devices mounted on thecarriage shall operate. f

In a machine of-the character described, Athe combination with a frameand carriage, of a computing device mounted on the frame, a .pluralityot' computing devices mounted onthe carriage, operating mecha- 'to theseveral computing devices and airranged to operate the samesimultaneously, and automatic means for determining the characterv ofoperation oteach computing device mounted on the carriage.

mounted on the carriage, operating meansl 5. In a machine of thecharacter described, the combination with a frame and carriage, of acomputing device mounted on the frame, a plurality of computing devicesmounted on the carriage and common to all the computing devices, andseparate controlling m'echanism for each of the computing devicesmounted on the carriage to de- 26 termine whether Asaid computingdevices shall' operate and the character of Such operation.

6. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a frameand car- 0l ria-ge, of a plurality of c'om uting devices mounted on thecarriage an operated for addition or subtraction, and controllingmechanism for said computing devices said controlling mechanismincluding control lbars located in different vertical planes on theframe and `control members adjustable along said bars. y

7. In a machine ofthe character described, thanbmbination with a frameand car- 40 ruig@ of a ,series of computing devices mounted on theframe, a plurality of computing devices mounted on the carriage, and

operating mechanism mountedon the carriage arranged to operate each ofthe regis- I ters onthe frame-and to operate, simu1taneously with eachof said computing devices, one or more of the computing devices on thecarriage.

. 8. In a machine ofthe character described,

the combination -with a frame and carriage, of a Aseries of computingdevices mounted on the frame, a plurality of computing devices mountedon the carriage, and controlling mechanism operated by the movement ofthe carriage to control both the operation and the character oi theoperation of the computing devices mounted on the carriage and includingdevices independ-'- ently settable on the frame and longitudinally ofthe carriage travel.

9. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a frameand carringe, of a plurality of computing devices mounted on the frame,a primary actuator mounted on the carriage and presentable to successivecomputing devices mounted on the frame, secondary actuators for thecomputing devices mounted on the carriage, and operating means common totherscveral actuators.

10. In amachine of the character defscribed, the combination with aframe and carriage, of a plurality of computing devices mounted on theframe, a prin'iary actuator mounted on the carriage and.presentable tosuccessive computing devices mounted on the traine, secondary actuatorsfor the com-- puting devices mounted on the carriage, and

separate controlling mechanism for each ofthe secondary actuators.

ll. In a machine of the character de scribed, the combination with a`frame and carriage, of a plurality of computing devices mounted on theframe, a primary actuator mounted on the carriage and prese-arable tosuccessive computing devices mounted on the frame, secondary actuatorsfor the computing devices mounted on the carriage, and

separate controlling mechanism for each of the secondary actuators saidcontrolling mechanism being operated to 4determine Whether the secondaryactuator shall operate its computing devices.

. 12. Ina machine of. the character de.- scribed., the combination witha frame and carriage, ot' a plurality of computing devices mounted onthe frame, a primary actuator mounted on the carriage and presentable tosuccessive computing devices mounted on the-frame, secondary actuatorsfor the computing devices mounted on the carriage, and separatecontrolling mechanism for each of the secondi. y actua-tors saidcontrolling `mechanism being operated Ato determine whether thesecondary actuator' actuator, and automatic means controlling Y saidvariable gearing.

14:. In a machine of the character described, the combination with aframe and carriage, of a plurality of computing devices mounted on theframe, a lurality of computing devices mounted on t e carriage, a masteractuator mounted on the carriage and arranged to operate each of thecomputing devices mounted on the frame, a plurality of secondaryAactuatorsmounted on the carriage to operate the computing devicesthereoma set of variable gearing for each secondary actuator, andcontrolling mechanism associated with each secondary actuator' and itsvariable gearing and variable to determine Whether a given secondary4actuator shall operate its computing device and whether such actuationshall be for addition or subtraction.

15. In a machine of the character described, the combination with aplurality of' computing devices and operating keys therefor, of keylocking mechanism, and means associated With each of the computing'devices to lock the key." after each computing device has been operatedcompletely and to unlock the keys Whe.' the parts of each computingdevice ha ve been restored to normal position.

16. In a machine of the character described, the combination with aplurality of computing mechanisms and operating keys therefor, of keylocking unechanism con# trolled by each of the Icomputing mech` anisms,and operative to lock the keys after each complete operation of acomputingv mechanism, and means whereby the movement of either masterwheel beyond the adjacent number wheels Will cause the keylockingnmechanism to lock the keys.

19. a machine ofthe character described, the combination with` -`aseries ci keys, and a plurality of computing mechanisms each including aseries of number wheels and a laterally movable master wheel, of keylockin mechanism, and means for causing the loc ing mechanism to lockthe keys when either master Wheel is in a lpre-determined position'andto unlock the eys when such master wheel moves from such pre-determinedposition in either drection. I v

20. In a machine of the character described, the combination with aseries of keys, of com uting mechanism including a plurality ofenomination selecting devices, carryin mechanisms and restoring mech'-anism or the carrying mechanism, of key locking mechanism controlledconjointl by the denomination selecting devices an the restoringmechanism. I i

21. In a machine of the character described, the combination with aseries of keys, a computing mechanism including carrying mechanism, aplurality of denomination selecting devices and a single restoringmechanism for-the carryin mechanism, of key locking mechanism e ectiveto lock the keys when any selecting-device moves to a given position,and means o erati've by the restoring mechanismto un ook thej keys. 'l

In a. machine of the character described, the combination with a seriesof operating keys, a com uting mechanism inc uding a plurality odenomination selecting devices, key locking mechanism including alocking lever, and means movable with each denommation selecting devicet'o move thelocking lever.

In testimony whereof I hereunto atlix my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses.

HARRY ARTHUR FOOTHORAP. IVitnesses:

J. 'JAuaN DIGFIFLD, MARSHALL H. DEAN.

